Reply #24: .

[MilesColtrane]

Clarinet at 12 yrs. old-picked it because it looked more interesting than the other instruments. I think it had to do with the black wood and asymmetrical, contrasting silver keys.

Tenor saxophone at 13-picked because I wanted to be in the junior high stage band. (which excluded clarinet players)

Started playing my Mom's guitar about that time also.

Oboe-picked for me when one of the school band members went on to high school.

Bass guitar at 14-picked for me by high school band director for the jazz band. Also started playing bass in a garage band.

Played my first gig about 6-8 months after that. It was in a place called the "Mad Dog Saloon". We split 20 bucks 3 ways.

French horn-again picked for me because of graduation attrition.

Studied music in college and began playing the upright bass and piano.

During this time I was also playing gigs. One grueling stretch that lasted for 3 months, I was playing a 6 night a week gig until 2am in a hotel bar 40 miles away, driving back, then getting up for 8:30am classes.

Eventually passed the barrier exams on both piano and bass, and gave my senior recital on upright. Graduated with a bachelor degree in jazz performance.

I've been playing professionally ever since...20+ years.

I want a drum set to pound on for fun, but just don't have the room for it.